{ - Western Riders United - } Open! CONTEST!

[cobalt.]

No problem. c: Yeah, I hate how most tack shops and things are for english riders. -.-
I wanted to take my Mom, her friend and her son, who's my age, on a trail at my barn. But she doesn't think she can make it her from the Albany area... so I'll have to ride there. One thing came to my mind- oh great. I'm gonna end up riding at some prissy, fancy prancy english barn. >:U I love Circle A; around here most of the barns are western but once you towards the city its all stupid english. -.-
Especially since she lives close to Saratoga race course -.-

I need a bit of advice... should I get Cowboy boots for his front legs for gymkhana, even though I'm just doing walk/trot?
I'm worried that somehow he'll get hurt. Several riders, who were in the intermediate class, had their horses wearing tie-downs, bell boots, leg boots, breast collars, the works and that was just for a Fun Show. And even with all that leg protection one girl's horse still (almost) got lame. She knocked over both barrels in keyhole then the horse tried to run over one of the barrels. The girls Mom came running out to the arena cussing up a storm "Sh*t I heard a snap, sh*t sh*t, GET OUTTA THE WAY SH*T!" the horse was fine, he probably just sprained it or something, since he just limped for a little while afterwards then he was back to normal. *shrug*
Then me and the other girl I ride with show up with our black, synthetic trail saddles, dirty pads and an average headstall. XD
I'm also wondering if I should use a tie-down on him, he keeps tossing his head and fighting against the bit. :/

[Actually.A.Herondale]

I can't stand how everything is English....down here on the island, there isn't a single barn that doesn't have a bunch of English riders, and western is just in the background.


I'm not sure if you should get boots, because a horse can step on himself while trotting, but if it's controlled enough....I dunno.

I went to look at a new barn today, after learning that where I ride now is aiming to be a Spanish Dressage stable. It's called Indian Head, and the barn is a little dirty, but it's better footing for the horses, all the horses look clean, and it almost has this comfortable homey feeling to it. Also, there was a foal that was born there last month, and he's the CUTEST little thing. He was a little nippy, but the cutest little chestnut foal, the perfectly shaped head and OMH, he was so cute! Not sure what his name is, and I don't have any pictures, but there are pictures on the website.
<---there's the picture from the website...his name is Digger.
Here's the website...a lot of English pictures, but all well. http://www.indianheadranchli.com/index.html

[cobalt.]

Trying. Not. To. Bawl. My. Eyes. Out...
I went to the barn to ride Cowboy yesterday. This guy was there checking out horses for his "customers" and he tried out a paint mare named Lady Dakota, then a paint gelding named Angus. I was riding Cowboy in the arena, practicing backing, turning and trotting. He asked my instructor/4-H leader/barn manager about Cowboy and she was telling him about Cowboy right in front of me. He asked me if he was mine, what classes I was showing him in and if I could trot him in a full circle.
Long story short, he asks {I'm going to call her T} T how much Angus and Cowboy were.
1,300$ for Cowboy 850$ for Angus. He told her he'd talk to his customers about Cowboy and get back to her in a couple days.
They planning on selling Cowboy after all this hard work I've put into him to show him in 24 DAYS.
And for what? To ride him on trails!
All the hard work, money and time spent on this horse so that he could show and he'll be used as a trail horse!

T said, don't worry we'll find you another horse, you needed to ride a more advanced horse anyways.
NO. You don't understand. I really like love this horse. I know that he likes to be itched under his mane and on his whorl. I was the only one who could get him to canter in the arena. He trusts me. Whenever I come near his stall he stops what he is doing and looks at me and sticks his nose up to the bars.

I can't afford to buy a horse or even lease really. My Mom is getting on my case telling me I need to get a job making a 100$ a month.
Telling me I'm irresponsible and I have no ambition.
HELLO?! I take care of a HORSE and I'm trying to follow through with this show.
She says I have to buy everything myself, that she's not going to pay anymore.
Then I have my Grandparents telling me that I can't ride.
Saying I didn't tighten the girth enough, that I don't know how to take care of him.
Then if T sells Cowboy my Mom, won't let me ride at Circle A anymore.
I'll have to ride english. -.-
:''C

[sam sam]

Awe, I'm sorry :c

[bonjour.]

I'm sorry. D:. Losing a horse you loves sucks.

[Actually.A.Herondale]

That really sucks....ON the day they come -if they come- to get him, try to be riding him and make him look really bad. Or...that's what I would do...



I recently found out that the barn I ride at is aiming to be a Spanish Dressage barn. And that's why most of their workers come different places in Europe, and a few from Mexico. *sigh*

[☣DeadRabbitHopes☣]

Howdy guys! I Am A Western Rider Too!
Username:: Kibachu
What Do You Do?:: Basic schooling classes(Western Pleasure, Discipline Rail), reining, trails and barrel racing
Why Do You Want In WRU?:: Because horses are my life(they will be forever) and I have no idea where I'd be without my dusty hat, my scarred up boots and my amazing 17 year old American Quarter Horse gelding <3
I, Kibachu, promise not to talk about any Non-western riding related in the forum
(why would you not want to talk about anything Western, that's what I'm askin')

[Hooligan.]

Circle Y saddles are really nice. But truthfully, Wade saddles are my absolute favorite (although Wades are mostly ranch saddles) Dave Chavez are also really nice. My mom has a Simco ranch saddle that is pretty nice as well. NRS World has alot of bridles and such without really expensive prices. Try going to shows or horse events to find tack vendors. I was recently at the NHSRA championships and I bought a beautiful bridle/breastcollar/reins set for only $140.

Queso and I showed for 4H the last 2 days:
Reserve Champion in Showmanship
Purple in Halter
4th (Red) in Reining
we did barrels too, but I don't know what we got on it. It was our 4H show and the ribbon standings go like this:
Grand Champ.
Res. Champ.
Purple
Blue
Red
White

We didn't do too bad, and a couple of my friends did extremely well. Although one girl's horse slipped and fell on her and she hit her head on a barrel, and another horse got stuck between the fence and the arena because the stupid kid led him between there- shows you what a good horse he is to follow her in there. And one of my friends fell off her horse coming into a rollback. It really wasn't too bad though. Our other show we didn't do too good on though, we got 4th in halter out of 5 people, and we didn't place in showmanship. The reason for that was that the classes in between my halter and showmanship classes were scratched, so we had no time to study the pattern, I messed up on only 2 things though.

[cobalt.]

{guys if you're in 4-H and you're interested I made a 4-H army where you can talk all about everything 4-H. :3 }

[☣DeadRabbitHopes☣]

Yeah, I was in a show this past Sunday with one of the western horses(his name was Jessie) at the barn I board my horse at(my horse had been sore for the last 3 days and I wanted to give him a rest in his paddock.)
We did really bad at first. 6th, 5th and then we didn't place at all because Jessie got fresh with one of the other horses and took off after it, I didn't want anybody to get hurt so I was pretty much forced to grab both reins and stop him. I thought the judges werent looking but turns out they were but all because safety is more important than a ribbon, y'know?

However in my final class, Jessie was a dream horse. He gave me the best western ride he's ever given me and we got a big ol' 1st place ribbon. I was so proud of him. It was like he knew we were doing poorly and wanted to make a comeback in front of the enourmous crowd of spectators that had gathered up to watch that day.

If you guys are interested, I recently made a video of some show practice with Jessie. He's a beautiful bay AQH gelding with a pulled mane and without any facial markings. I might post the link to it later.

I'm also in a drill team now, we're putting together a Footloose themed routine(y'all know the movie?) and we're going to the 4-H country fair this weekend to show it off.